Did that just happen? and what does it mean? (Rafa's 1R loss)

[El Dude]

I thought we should start a thread for this.

First of all, congratulations to Steve Darcis - what an amazing match.

So now for Rafa. This has huge implications, both for Wimbledon and the rest of the season. Roger Federer is likely to stay in the top four for the US Open and it is now virtually impossible for Rafa to gain #1 this year, and unlikely that he'll even make the top 4 - I suppose it will be possible after Paris if Ferrer can't defend.

As for Wimbledon, Roger Federer has to be feeling good right now, as do others in Rafa's quarter, which is now wide open. I'll check it later, but want to get this posted now.

---

So looking at the draw, I like Benoit Paire to make it to the QF to face Federer. Wawrinka and Isner have a shot, too, but I think Paire's rising fast and would like to see him in the QF.

Roger should breeze through the 2R, and should be fine against Melzer in the 3R (although could see him drop a set), and shouldn't be challenged until the 4R when he'll likely face Janowicz or Almagro. But at this point I really like Roger's chances of making it to at least the SF, and he now has a much better chance of defending his title.

 

[Kieran]

What can I say?

I've watched W for years, never saw a guy play first round against a favourite like this before. Darcis played as great as some players do in winning the final. Nadal looked rusty and nervous, but the other guy stood up at every stage and played celestial stuff.

Last game was a case in point. 15-15, Ralph hurls the fireplace at him and Darcis chases it down, slamming it low over the high point of the net. Guys like him usually fade at some point, lose heart and fragment, but he didn't and was a credit to himself and his team.

Some peeps here said this could happen, Rafa would be vulnerable in round one or two, and I disagreed, and they were right, although Darcis play today could have graced a final, it was that solid.

So Rafa heads home so early, hopefully to rest. He's been great since he came back and now he needs to nurse himself through the HCs. He's played a huge amount since February but this wasn't to be. Will he be #1 again? Yes. But first, hit the beach, Ralph

Vamos! And enjoy the tennis. I have no horse left in it but I wouldn't mind seeing a Brit finally break through. By the way, I still have him behind Federer and Djoker in the list of favourites...

 

[El Dude]

RE: What can I say?

We should merge these threads ; mine was posted first

---

I think he'll be #1 again, but not this year. Not after that.

 

[Kieran]

RE: What can I say?

They're different threads - no need to merge them...

 

[tennisville]

RE: What can I say?

So Kieran you back after 1 day , seems you were never away

Thank you Rafa for this

 

[Kieran]

RE: What can I say?

So Kieran you back after 1 day , seems you were never away

Thank you Rafa for this

:clap

I'm going away again now! Better hurry before Front and a few others come on!

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: What can I say?

Kieran I watched the whole match as well, and the way I saw it, Darcis did not play out of his mind, in the Rosol sense. He played controlled, steady, he used his slice well, attacked well, but he was within himself. Rafa could never get HIS game going, that was the thing for me. He did not put 3 games together to generate any momentum. He could not adjust to the conditions. How many times he wanted to take a slice ball that was directed at his forehand and tried to run around it and miss badly with his forehand. It just was not happening for him today, movement wise.

Watching the presser right now. He is upset. Talking about adapting to grass, missing Halle..."not the time to talk about physical issues"

 

[Kieran]

RE: What can I say?

Hi Murat,

I thought Darcis was hitting more cleanly than Rafa, in fact, he looked like a really quality player, he was class throughout. I hope he doesn't do the usual and flop in round 2, but he should frame this effort.

I suppose it comes down to the right big points in the tiebreakers: Darcis had "the calm" and played his game and this caused Rafa to become flustered. No, it wasn't brutal like Rosil, it was if you're a fan!

 

[Denis]

RE: What can I say?

I noticed that too in the final game Kieran, kudos to Darcis really. That was not easy. Darcis felt the rust and capitalized on it. He still played very well. No he didn't go for the winners but his coverage was amazing.

---

Rusty will meet the Fedster in the QF and then get demolished. Federer firmly set for an epic semi-final clash with Murray.

Nadal will get back to top 4 soon, no worries (at least if there is no real injury). Ferrer is the one losing here actuallly, with Federer probably not losing too much points now.

 

[calitennis127]

RE: [split] What can I say? / What does it mean? (Rafa's 1R loss)

This doesn't surprise me at all, based on the tennis. Nadal winning on grass over the years has been one of the least impressive sporting feats I have ever witnessed.

 

[herios]

RE: What can I say?

Hi Murat,

I thought Darcis was hitting more cleanly than Rafa, in fact, he looked like a really quality player, he was class throughout. I hope he doesn't do the usual and flop in round 2, but he should frame this effort.

I suppose it comes down to the right big points in the tiebreakers: Darcis had "the calm" and played his game and this caused Rafa to become flustered. No, it wasn't brutal like Rosil, it was if you're a fan!

Kieran, it is clear tht Darcis is a player who is comfortable on grass. He also upset Berdych last year first round in the Olympics, so he has 2 top 10 scalps on grass

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

RE: What can I say? / What does it mean? (Rafa's 1R loss)

btw, i think this royally messes up Fed's wimby. Rafa looming in the quarters would've been a taunting task for ol' Rog. would've been real nice win to have in the swan song part of his career, and bowing out v Murray wouldn't have been that bad then. now, he actually has to go deep and probably win the whole thing again if he's to take any positive from the tournament

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

RE: What can I say?

what really bugs me is that people still over-estimate the vulnerability of Rafa in the first set *eatingmyhat*

 

[calitennis127]

RE: What can I say?

This match was a great example of why hitting flat and taking the ball early (i.e. being an initiator instead of a reactor) is the best way to play the game of tennis.

I also must credit Darcis's backhand slice. He executed a few wicked slices in the match today.

 

[herios]

RE: What can I say?

I noticed that too in the final game Kieran, kudos to Darcis really. That was not easy. Darcis felt the rust and capitalized on it. He still played very well. No he didn't go for the winners but his coverage was amazing.

---

Rusty will meet the Fedster in the QF and then get demolished. Federer firmly set for an epic semi-final clash with Murray.

Nadal will get back to top 4 soon, no worries (at least if there is no real injury). Ferrer is the one losing here actuallly, with Federer probably not losing too much points now.

---

If Roger loses in the SF, he still slips well below Ferrer

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

RE: What can I say?

Hi Murat,

I thought Darcis was hitting more cleanly than Rafa, in fact, he looked like a really quality player, he was class throughout. I hope he doesn't do the usual and flop in round 2, but he should frame this effort.

I suppose it comes down to the right big points in the tiebreakers: Darcis had "the calm" and played his game and this caused Rafa to become flustered. No, it wasn't brutal like Rosil, it was if you're a fan!

Kieran, it is clear tht Darcis is a player who is comfortable on grass. He also upset Berdych last year first round in the Olympics, so he has 2 top 10 scalps on grass

good pointing that out. while this is a surprise and a shock and all, it's no coincidence that Darcis got to do it (in this fashion as well). as i said, he's got quite some shots, and the 1hbh on the grass. he really went for his shots, took his chances today - while it hurts seeing Rafa lose, it is pretty nice to see that pay off.

 

[Garro]

Very very surprising. Looked at the draw and figured maybe one of the guys could do some damage to Rafa. But I never would have guessed Rafa would lose Wimbledon without winning a single set. Good news for Fed though, I'd say his chances of defending his title just shot up big time.

 

[huntingyou]

an impostor going by the name of rafa. In all seriousness, I don't want to hear anything about his knee from his camp. It was mostly mental you just don't lose in the first round of a Slam to a nobody after playing great tennis the entire season. I have never seen Rafa look so amateur and plain silly.

not even a set..........I mean, Rafa last year against Rosol looked like a world beater compared to himself today.

 

[SF Nadalite]

what u gonna do?

I cannot agree that it was mostly mental - more that Rafa often seems to start slowly and his game gets better and better through most every tournament, esp. in the slams. I think Darcis played beautiful tennis - had some really amazing shots, served quite well (out wide serve on ad court was impressive). More importantly, shots that Nadal has always made for winners (esp. at Wimbledon) were just not there....landed wide, into the net, etc...

Is that considered mental? I don't really think so. Nadal has always gained confidence through play/practice - and he came into Wimbledon without his usual warm-up. He made a slight reference to it in his conference (although kind of mumbled) about not being able to play 2 weeks ago and you cannot go back and change time.

But he is right - hindsight is 20-20.

I'd prefer to see him play his beautiful game - but if he's not, then it's a little easier to see him go home early.

 

[calitennis127]

Nadal today was no worse than he has been on many, many occasions at Wimbledon. The difference was that his opponent had his act together and consistently executed superior flat shots, while taking the ball early.